Differentiation Criterion 
Definition
A business partner characteristic that you can set to determine the criteria (such as a branch of a bank, for example) according to which certain business partner attributes can be differentiated, or distinguished.
Use
This object is used to differentiate the following business partner data:
· Business partner relationships
· Ratings
You can process the differentiation criterion only in a business partner role that has been defined for differentiation.
When you differentiate business partner relationships, enter the differentiation criterion in the business partner relationship category.
You can determine the value for the differentiation criterion in three different ways:
· You assign a specific value to the differentiation criterion
· You use an algorithm that dynamically determines the value of the differentiation criterion. The differentiation criterion could be numbered sequentially, for example. The first entry of differentiated ratings would automatically be given the differentiation criterion 001, the second differentiation criterion 002, and so on.
· You define the value for the differentiation criteria in Customizing for the SAP Business Partner for Financial Services in the IMG activity Define Differentiation Criterion by choosing Settings for Financial Services ® General Settings ® Basic Settings ® Differentiation.
You can only use one particular method within each client.
Integration
If the correct settings have been made, the system checks the authorization object B_BUPA_CRI with the activities Create, Change, and Display.
For more information about preconditions, see Differentiating Business Partner Information.
For more information about the use of the differentiation criterion, see Processing Differentiated Business Partner Data.